Thread: Rust on my new straight?

Greetings all. I bought a brand new Dovo Pearlex and I've been using it for around two weeks now. Earlier this evening, I noticed some dark spots on it and I was hoping that someone could tell me if it's rust, miscellaneous spotting or something else.

I live in an older apartment building which was built in the 1920s and I think that one reason I am seeing this is due to the humidity and lack of air flow in the bathroom.

After doing some reading, I have found a good dry place to keep the razor and additional tips on thoroughly drying it.

My second question is, can anyone offer tips on removing those spots? I tried rubbing them off gently with a towel, my thumbnail and some toothpaste, but it didn't work so before damaging the blade, I was hoping someone could offer their input.

Thanks!

Welcome to SRP. Metal polish such as Semichrome, Maas, Flitz or Wenol on a Q-tip followed by a paper towel is what I do. Careful around the etching, depending on how deep it is , you may lose some. If it is gold wash metal polish will remove it in short order. Looks like 'water spots' from your photo. You have to take extra care if your water affects razors that way. Mine does with some highly polished blades and not with others. A lubricant such as Birchwood Casey RIG is great for protection of any metal surface from rust IME.

The sooner you get started on those spots, the better chance you will have of getting rid of some/all of them. Looks like Jimmy covered all the bases for you. Good luck.

Thus far, I have been lucky with my Dovo razors. When I finish using them, I immediately wash them in hot water, making sure to get all the soap off. I do this even before I rinse off my face. I then dry them with a soft towel and lightly polish them with a smooth cotton towel and then set them aside to also air dry.

After I finish rinsing my face and applying aftershave or balm, I then put one drop of Camelia oil on the blade and smooth it on both sides. Using folded toilet paper, I wipe the oil off until just a light coating is left. Then I let the razor stay open in the dry air before putting it away. I have not had razor spots on the Dovos, thus far.

I am experimenting with using Renaissance Wax on my razors to keep them more pristine. I just started this evening by polishing some razors with Maas and then lightly applying and polishing each razor with three coats of Renaissance wax.

Some razors are more susceptible to staining and rusting. I have a Wade and Butcher razor that will begin to have dark spots during the course of the shave. The Mass cleans them up but I am hoping that the Renaissance wax will protect them during the shave itself.

While Maas is very effective, it can take the gold wash off if you are not very careful. I polish all around the gold and try not to actually put Mass on the wash itself.

I understand your frustration and wish you well.

Wacker Razors stain very easily. I'm going to start treating all my razors with Renaissance Wax.

You might try a cotton tack rag treated with Tuf-Glide followed by another tack rag treated with mineral oil or camelia oil. Leave this coating on the blade. Rinse the blade in hot water just before stropping for your next shave. And keep your pinky prints off the blade.

And by the way, very good photos there.

JERRY
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i hold mine under the hot tap water after the shave and it gets the blade hot enough so when i wipe it off what dampness is left evaporates at once and is totaly dry . i have been doing this from o7 till now and no rust or spots , and i lived on the gulf of mexico till 3 years ago, and the humidity here is just as bad.

All this seems like soo much work just to keep a razor in good shape. Can't you just leave the razor in an anti rusting agent? Or is that stupid?

Originally Posted by kaivorth

All this seems like soo much work just to keep a razor in good shape. Can't you just leave the razor in an anti rusting agent? Or is that stupid?

It's not much work. None of the procedures mentioned above, take more than a minute or two.
Just wipe dry after use, strop edge dry, then coat with mineral oil.
or:
Spend 30 minutes or more removing rust spots.

I am in the DLB camp. Heat the blade up and let it dry. I have had this practice for some 3 odd year and my problems never returned. I use a Japanese applicator with Balistol and Cammelia oil mixture. I also use Renaissance Wax as a final step when I hone up my razors.

Take Care,
Richard